Concrete construction



March 29, 1945. R. D. YANQKEE 2,3?2,42

CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 24, 1941 s Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Bela/7 D. Yafl/ree.

ATTORN EY March 20, 1945.

R. D. YANKEE CONCRETE CQNSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 24, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Halo/2 D. Yankee.

' Mot (QM.

ATTORNEY March 1945- R. D. YANKEE 2372,42

CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 24, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 re Q Q6 asgx x w ikymfi INVENTOR A'TTORN EY Patented Mar. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,312,042 001mm CONSTRUCTION Ralph D. Yankee, 1mm; city, Mo. Application October 24, 1941, Serial No. 416,355

10mins. (oi. 72-30) precast units which are readily assembled to form a hollow wall structure that may be filled with insulation or used as a form in pouring a concrete core when solid walls are required; to provide a unit construction that is water-tight and completely weather-proof; to provide a reinforced concrete construction that is not affected by weather conditions in that the precast units shut off air, heat, and sun effects from the concrete core while setting; and to provide a construction which results in an outer wall surface of uniform appearance and free of defects such as honeycomb, rust streaks from the reinforcement, and

' form marks.

A further object of the invention is to provide inner and outer units that may comprise an entire bay or side wall of a building and which units may have the reinforcement, ties, tie rods, dowels, and dowel sockets set in place and the concrete poured while in fiat to erect position in the wall.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a corner of a building constructed of precast units in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away to better illustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the walls on the 1ine.22 of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a window opening in the wall and taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the precast units, particularly illustrating the reinforcement and dowels whereby the units are connected together.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a modified form of the invention wherein the inner'and outer imits are used asa form in pouring aconcrete core in forming a solid wall construction.

1'18. 7 is a perspective view of one of the units position and then raised .the invention, the walls may parts being broken away to better illustrate construction thereof.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the first course of units illustrated in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through one end of the wall shown in Fig. 6, particularly illustrating the formation of a pilaster therein.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of a pair of adjacent precast units of interconnecting means.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, and

first to the form of the Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive;

I designates a hollow concrete wall structure, for examplethe side walls of a small building such as a residence or the like. In carrying out invention illustrated in marginal portions of the fioor slab 2 which may overlap the foundation walls, or the side walls may be supported directly upon the foundation walls. In either event, the supporting element is provided with spacer strips 3 which'may be separately formed and suitably attached to the supporting element or be formed integrally therewith. The spacer strips 3 preferably extend continuously with the walls and are inset to provide inner and outer ledges l and 5 and vertical faces Ii and I.

The walls illustrated are preferably divided into bays 8 defined by batten-like members-9 representing pilasters. Each bay includes inner and outer monolithic slab-like units In and H. The

units may be of such sizethat when the edges 12 and I3 thereof are supported on the ledges l and 5, the upper edges H and I5 support a cap plate lfi on which the roof rafters I! are supported. The ends l8 of the slabs extend perpendicularly and are overlapped, as at H, with the batten-like members 9,,or they mayabut one another.

The inner and outer units may be provided with window openings 20 that extend downwardly from the upp r edges I I and which are adapted to be encased by frame units comprising side jambs 21 and 22, a sill unit 23, and a header unit 24, all of which are precast and correspond in width to the thickness of the wall. The inner faces 25 of the frame units are provided with employed in the structure illustrated in Fig. 6, ll

grooves 26 to accommodate the marginal edges of a window frame 21. The portion of the opening 2! above the header 24 is closed by lintel units 28 and 29, the ends of which" engage block sections 22 and It forming continuations of the lambs 2i and 22.

The window frame units Just described and showing a modified form be supported on the the door frames which are formed of precast and a header 33, corresponding to the window jambs and header above described. The upper portion of the door opening is closed by lintels 31 and 33 having their ends abuttin against block sections 39 which form 39 which form upper continuations of the jambs 35, the header 35 being supported directly on the upper ends of the jambs so that the weight of the lintels is supported thereon. These parts are also secured together by the dowel and socket connections as previously described.

The end edges of the inner and outer slab units are provided with rods 43 and 4t. The vertical batten-like members of the corner bays have their outer edges overlapped as at 42 and the corner edges of the inner slab units abut against each other as indicated at 43. The rods 40 and 4! have projecting ends which overlap and are tied together by wires 44. The batten members are secured to the projecting ends of the rods by wire ties that are incorporated into the reinforcement 45 thereof. The spaces 41 between the slab units are closed at the ends by strips of metal or the like 43 which may he slid into position between jambs the projecting ends of the rods 40 and 4! so as to cooperate with the overlapping corner battens in forming a hollow corner column which may be filled with concrete as indicated at 49 to form a solid column. Adjoining bays in the same side wall are spaced apart preferably at a partition 50 and the spaces between the outer slabs are bridged by one of the batten strips. The partition may be formed of spaced slabs 5| similarly to the side walls with the outer edge corners thereof abutting the corresponding edge corners of the inner slabs of the side wall. The spaces between the slabs are also closed by plates 48 to form a column 52 which is filled with concrete 53.

The lower margins of the slab units 10 and H are provided at a point above the spacer strips 3 with bushings 54 and 55 to pass drawbolts 55. In order that the heads 51 and nuts 58 on the bolts may be countersunk from the outer surfaces of the slabs, the slabs have recesses 59 registering with the bushings 5d and 55. The upper portions of the slab sections have tie wires 60 and GI imbedded therein and have projecting ends 62 which are twisted together as later described. Imbedded in the inner surface of one of the slab sections are threaded sockets such as nuts 63 for receiving the threaded shanks of spacing bolts 54.

The slab units forming the inner and outer portions of the respective bays may be cast at the site of construction. For example, suitable forms may be laid directly upon the floor 2, preferably with paper thereunder to prevent adhering of the concrete tothe floor. The sides of the form may be provided with suitable openings through which the dowels 32 are projected. The forms may also be provided with suitable cores for forming the sockets 33. The form is then poured with concrete and the internal reinforcing, for example ordinary mesh 65, is pressed thereinto, bights of wire being looped through selected meshes to provide the ties 50 and BI. The nuts 63 of the spacing bolts 54 are then pressed into the concrete.

The bushings 54 and 55 and the cores (not shown) for making the recesses 53 are imbedded in their proper positions in the concrete prior to setting thereof. The concrete is then allowed to acquire its initial set, after which the forms are removed and the units properly cured. The lamb, sill and header units, as well as the lintel and filler block sections surrounding the door and window openings may be cast in a similar manner. The batten members may likewise be preformed on the job.

When the erection is to take place, the inner and outer slabs i3 and II of the respective bays are raised to position so that the lower edges l2 and I3 thereof seatupon the ledges 4 and 5 at opposite sidesof the strips 3. The drawbolts 55 are then applied to clamp the lower edges of the inner and outer slabs against the spacing strips 3. The spacing bolts 54 are then adjusted so that the top edges I4 and [5 of the slabs are spaced apart in conformance to the spacing efiected by the strip 3. after which the ends 62 of the ties 60 and GI are twisted together as indicated at 56 to support the wall slabs in position. The sills 23 are then placed in position, followed by the jambs 2i and 22, which are retained in position by the dowels 32 projecting from the edges of the window openings. The window frame 21 is inserted in the grooves 26. The header section is then placed in position so that the ends are supported directly on the ends of the jamb sections, after whichthe block sections 30 and 3t are seated on the ends of the header section as shown in Fig. 1. The lintel sections 28 and 29 are then moved to position. The door frames are similarly assembled, after which the batten members 9 are applied so that they overlap the adjacent edges of the outer slab units of the adiacent bays and the wires 44 thereof are twisted around the ends of the rods 40 and 4| projecting from the edges of the inner and outer slab units. The plates 41 are then moved into position to close the spaces 46 and form the sides of the columns which are filled with concrete. If desired the space between the inner and outer slab units may be filled with insulation material or it may be left open to provide dead air spaces. The space between the lintels over the doors and windows can be filled with concrete as indicated at 51 to carry the load thereabove. The cap plate it is then applied so that the sockets 33 therein engage over the upwardly projecting dowels 32 with the side edges resting upon the upper edges [4 and I5 of the slab units.

The advantages of this type of construction are that a carpenter can lay out and. make a great number of the outlining forms in a day and supervise their forming operations. The rest of the operations may be performed by common labor. The erection of the units is less expensive than the erection of wood forms. The completed wall requires no force gun grouting to make it weathertight since there are no ties extending through to the exterior of the units or any erection holes. The completed wall provides a hollow, light weight construction that may be thoroughly insulated to provide a weather-proof wall. The units also have uniform appearance and there is no possibility of rust streaks or defects marring the exterior sur' faces. The job is also cleaner and safer as no great piles of lumber reinforcing are required, nor are nails required in holding the forms together.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the inner and outer wall sections 61 and 53 may be formed of a plurality or flat,

- in Fig. 6. The units are tice.

fvided with openings become an integral part of slab-like units 68 laid upon edge in superimposed courses. The units are formed in the same manner as the slabs previously described, and are of substantially rectangular shape and of relatively narrow thickness to provide side edges III-ll, upper and lower edges 12 13, an and an inner face IS. The upper edge 12 and -side edges H are provided 'with projecting dowels 16 which are inset into the concrete similar to the dowels previously described. The edge is provided with sockets 11 to receive the dowels on the side edge H of an adjacent unit. The lower edge 13 is likewise provided with sockets II which are of somewhat longer dimension to enga e the dowels 16 in a next lower course and to permit shifting of the units so that the sockets 'I'l receive the dowels 16 on an adjacent unit, as shown provided with ordinary mesh reinforcement 18 to which the nights or ties 19 are connected, the ties having ends 80 and 8| projecting therefrom and which are adapted to be twisted together with the ties ,of

unit, as indicated at 82. The inner faces of the outer units are preferably provided with nuts 83 of spacer bolts 84. In setting up the wall the inner and outer units are supported on the foundation 85 which has reinforcing dowels 86 projecting upwardly therefrom to key the wall thereto. The outer units are preferably the first laid up and are suitably braced (not shown) from the exterior side as in ordinary wall supporting prac- These particular units are preferably pro- 81 therein through which ties (not shown) are units to the'braces so that the wall is supported in perpendicular position. After completing the outer section of the wall, the space between the units may then be provided with the necessary reinforcing. The units composing the inner section are then laid up in courses. The spacer bolts 84 are threaded so as to space the inner section, after which the -ties 88 and 8| of the inner and outer units are twisted together, as indicated at 82, to draw the inner units against the heads of the bolts. The space is then filled with concrete 88 to form a solid wall structure.

This structure is also adapted to the formation of pilasters, beams, and the like, as indicated at 89, by the use of special units 90 and 9| that are set up to form the pilasters. When the spaces between the units are filled with concrete, as at 88, a solid wall structure is provided having the ordinary concrete In this form of the invention, the units, with the exception of those forming the pilasters and beams, are all of the same shape and dimensions and when laid up constitute forms for the poured concrete and when the concrete is set up they the wall, being thoroughly attached by means of the interconnected tie wires. This particular attachment to existing walls or where sliding of the units is impracticable. If desired, the customary reinforcing may be inserted in the space outer face 14,

the facing extended for securingv the into the nuts 83 and adjusted form is adapted for' .it is thoroughly protected What 1 claim and'desire' to secure by letters Patent is:

1. A building construction including a support, bays each comprising spaced inner and outer slab-like units of monolithic construction, bat,-

. connecting said units, said units, the free endsv of said wires said recesses to clamp one slab twisted to the to retain the units together,

ten-likemembers constituting pilasters joining the ends of said bays, means adjacent. the lower margin of said slabs spacing the units of one side from the units of another side, recesses in the lower margins of said slab-like units provided with bushings, bolts for passage through the units against the spacing means, means in the inner surface of one of the slab sections receiving an adjustable spacing bolt, the opposite end of which has contact engagement only with the opposite slab unit, ties ties comprising wires having their ends imbedded in the walls of the respective slabs, the outer ends of the ties of ties of the opposite slab and a concrete core filling the space between said units said tiesconstituting a reinforcement for said concrete.

2. A building construction including, bays each consisting of wires looped through said reinforcement and embedded in the walls of said projecting from said units to draw the units together, columns at the ends of said bays, a threaded socket embedded adjacent the upper edge of one of said units, an adjustable spacing bolt provided with a threaded shank fitting into said threaded 'socket and having a head on the opposite end engaging against the side of an opposing unit, rods projecting from the ends of said units and anchored in said columns, cap plates closing the space between said units at the upper edges thereof, and insulating material filling the space between said units.

3. A building construction including a support, a raised spacing strip on said support whereby an inner and outer ledge is provided thereon, a plurality of juxtaposed relatively thin slab-like units constituting opposite walls of a form, said units being seated in said ledges and held in engagement with the opposite sides of the spacing strip by means of adjustable bolts passing through the lower margins of said units whereby said walls are maintained in spaced relation, a. threaded socket embedded adjacent the upper edge of each of said units of one wall, an adjustable spacing bolt provided with a threaded shank fitting into said threaded socket and having a head on the opposite end engaging against the side of an opposing unit, and ties connecting said opposed units, said ties comprising wires embedded in the units and having ends protruding therefrom, the ends of the ties of one unit twisted to the ends of the ties of the opposite unit to retain the units together.

. a prior to pouring oi the concrete, 'however, less,v

4. Abuilding construction including a support,

bayseach comprising spaced inner and outer slab-like units; of monolithic construction, batten-like members constituting pilasters joining the ends of said bays, means adjacent the lower margins of said slabs spacing the units of one side from the units of another side, recesses in the lower margin of said slab-like units provided with bushings, a bolt for passing through said recesses clamping the units against the spacing means, a threaded socket embedded in the top edge of one of said units, an adjustable. spacing bolt provided with a threaded shank fitting into said threaded socket and having a head on the opposite and engagin against the side of an opposing unit, and ties connecting said units, said ties comprising wires having their ends imbedded in the walls of the respective slabs, the outer ends of the ties of one slab twisted to the ties of the opposite slab to retain the units to.- gether.

5. A building construction including a support, a raised spacing strip on said support whereby an inner and outer ledge is provided thereon, a plurality of juxtaposed relatively thin slab-like units constituting opposite walls of a form, said units being seated in said ledges and held in engagement with the opposite sides of the spacing strip by means of adjustable bolts passing through the lower margins of said units whereby said walls are maintained in spaced relation, a threaded socket embedded adjacent the upper edge of each of said units of one wall, an adjustable spacing bolt provided with a threaded shank fitting into said threaded socket and having a head on the opposite end engaging against the side of an opposing unit, ,ties connecting said opposed units, said ties comprising wires embedded in the units and having ends protruding therefrom, the ends of the ties of one unit twisted to the ends of the ties of the opposite unit to retain the units together, dowels in selected edges of said units, and elongated sockets in the opposite edges of said units for receiving the corresponding dowels of an adjacent unit when a unit is assembled in a wall.

said walls are maintained in spaced relation, a threaded socket embedded adjacent the upper edge of each of said units of one wall, an adjustable spacing bolt provided with a threaded shank fitting into said threaded socket and having a head on the opposite end engaging against the side of an opposing unit, means anchored in the respective units terminating short of the outside of said units providing an unbroken finish on the outside surface of said units, and means for connecting said anchoring means to retain said units together.

7. A building construction including a support, bays each comprising spaced inner and outer slab-like units of monolithic construction, means adjacent the lower margins of said slabs spacing the units of one side from the units of another side, recesses in the lower margin of said slab-like units provided with bushings, a bolt for passing through said recesses clamping the units against the spacing means, a threaded socket embedded in the top edge of one of said units, an adjustable spacing bolt provided with a threaded shank fitting into said threaded, socket and having a head on the opposite end engaging against the side of an opposing unit, and ties connecting said units, said ties comprising wires having their ends embedded in the walls of the respective slabs, the outer ends of the ties of one slab twisted to the ties of the opposite slab to retain the units together.

RALPH D. YANKEE. 

